Chapter Fourteen
You never can tell what is going to happen next, that's the beauty of life.
It always leaves you wondering what will happen next. Sometimes you may know exactly what is going to happen and other times you may be off by a long shot.
But the only way you are ever going to find out, is if you go live it.
-Front page New-York News of the World Gazette, February 3rd, 1902
"Oh please, your voice has grown very irritating," Penelope smiled cruelly at her cousin. She brushed her hand along the long curtains, unvailing the chilled window that was behind it. From behind her she could hear Scarlet mumbling to herself but she only smiled. She didn't care if her cousin was angry with her for she knew that Scarlet would be over it in a matter of hours. It was never anything permanent.
Penelope turned attention to world beyond the clear glass. The sky above had now gathered many grey clouds, each immerging with one another to rob the sun of its light. It had been the first time in months that even a cloud had spotted the sky and by the looks of it, there was going to be snow coming along with it. She heard Scarlet sit down on the tan couch behind her as she took away her hand and let the curtain fall back to its rightful spot. She turned, shooting her cousin a crude smile as she made her way to a chair on the far side of the room. Scarlet was now lying down on the couch with arms crossed over her chest but Penelope wasn't going to give her the time. She had better things in mind.
"You know the way that you are sitting is not very lady like, Scarlet," she told her as she sat down across from her.
"You have no right to tell me how I present myself! Besides, you are the only one around and it is not like you care so why should I," Scarlet snapped and turned her attention towards the ceiling above her. Penelope couldn't help but laugh, making her cousin even more upset.
"Oh you know that I am only kidding," she giggled making Scarlet's head turn.
"You are never "only kidding"; you are always telling everyone the truth even if it may hurt someone else. You have to make sure everyone knows what you think about a topic even though the truth is no one really cares!" Scarlet snapped back. Penelope looked at her with a hurt look on her face.
"And that hurt my feelings ever so much," she said bringing her hand to wipe away the tears that weren't there. Scarlet started to believe this act until Penelope started to smile. She began to laugh again only to make Scarlet face the other direction.
"Oh Scar, everyone wants to know my opinion because everyone values it. Even if they don't like what they hear, they still want to hear what I have to say."
"Have you always thought so highly of yourself?" Penelope gave a slight shrug sending Scarlet to sit up right.
"You want to know what I think?" she asked.
"No but I have a feeling you are going to tell me anyway."
"I think you're jealous."
"And I think you're insane," Penelope shot back quickly. She leaned forward and wrapped her hand around the tea cup that her maid had placed on the table for her only a short while ago. Scarlet's blue eyes glared at her as she brought the rim to her lips and took a sip.
"I am not joking. I think you are jealous of my brilliant idea to make him fall in love with me." Penelope almost spit all of the liquid back into the cup but luckily caught herself and swallowed it as politely as she could. She set the cup back down on its tray before she spook again.
"Your what?" she asked with an irritated tone. Scarlet crossed her arms and looked pleased.
"My wonderful idea."
"Scar there is nothing wonderful about that idea," she made sure she had her cousin's attention before pressing on, "you are trying to break a couple apart just so that you can have the husband all to yourself."
"Yes, doesn't that sound like something you have done?" Penelope paused for Scarlet was right, she had done just that to Elizabeth and Henry just so she could have what she wanted.
"Yes," she said slowly, "but this is different."
"Penny please! There is nothing different about it!" Penelope raised her hand to silence her cousin.
"Scarlet this man is actually married and with a child too! You can't take a father away from his child that is just cruel."
"But I wouldn't be! I would become the kid's step mother and there is nothing wrong with that."
"Your whole plan has everything wrong with it." Scarlet stood up abruptly and began to make her way out of the room.
"Fine, you don't have to support me but that doesn't mean I am not going to go through with it." Penelope sighed.
"Wait," she said catching her cousin just in time before she was to walk out the door. She stood up and made her way towards the other end of the room.
"You know I don't agree with this," she began with each step she took.
"Penelope don't-
"Hush, let me speak," she stopped walking and turned around to face her cousin who was now at the opposite end of the room.
"I don't know if I like what you are planning on doing but that doesn't mean I am going to stop you nor does it mean I am going to help you either." She watched a smile creep across Scarlet's face as she spook.
"But, I won't mind setting up opportunities for you to try to put your little plan into action."
"You would really do that?" Scarlet asked with a hint of joy. Penelope gave a sly smile.
"I have always liked to mess with people's lives," she said but before she could say anymore, Scarlet was rushing over to her and then threw her arms around her.
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" Scarlet yelled with joy.
"Its no problem," Penelope said trying to remove the arms that were locked around her body. Scarlet took a step back with a questioning look on her face as if asking what they were going to do next. Penelope smiled and placed her hands on her hips. Even though she didn't agree with what they were about to do, she was still slightly excited to get back to her old ways. The old Penelope Hayes was back and meaner than ever she thought silently to herself.
"So," she began to ask, "how are we going to make Mr. Teddy Cutting leave his wife and fall in love with you?"
Elizabeth glanced out of the window of her old childhood home. There was no longer any sunlight outside for the dark grey clouds had consumed it all. A few specks of snow had began to fall from their place in the sky, making it the first time in months since Manhattan had last seen any signs of a winter storm. She sat herself back down on the couch before rubbing her tired eyes.
"Lizzy?" a voice called out. She turned her head slightly to Teddy standing in the doorway with a pot of tea in his hand.
"Hi," he said softly then motioned to the pot, "I got this from the red haired maid. She said she was going to bring it to you." Elizabeth smiled.
"That's Macy," she said then patted the seat next to her, "come sit." Teddy walked over to her and set the tea on the table in front of them. He took his seat then turned to face her.
"How are you doing?" he asked with his caring grey eyes.
"I am doing better," she said taking one of his hands in her own.
"This is good, you're making process," he stated and Elizabeth nodded, not knowing what to say. She was doing well for just losing someone that was close to her and she was proud of herself for staying so strong. If only she could give some strength to her sister.
"Where's Diana?" Elizabeth asked before she was to forget.
"I saw to it that the driver was to take her home so that she could get some rest. He said he would be back to get us in an hour and that was," he glanced up the clock," about forty-five minutes ago."
"So we have some time," Elizabeth stated.
"We have some time," he smiled as he brushed away a piece of his wife's hair that had fallen into her face. She closed her gently eyes and let herself get lost in touch of her husband's hand against her smooth face. She missed spending time him when it used to be just the two of them. This was the first time since her mother's death that the two of them had been alone for more the five minutes.
"I have told you that you look beautiful today?" he asked. She opened her eyes to meet his and shook her head.
"This would be the first," she whispered as she watched his face move closer to her own.
"Well, you look beautiful my love," he whispered against her lips.
"That would be the second time," she replied only to watch him smile. She loved his smile; she loved everything about him especially his kiss. Teddy placed a hand in Elizabeth's hair and brought her closer to him. She closed her eyes and let herself get caught up in the moment for it was one thing that she had needed more than anything. He then closed the gap between the two of them and he held his wife in his arms while giving her a long lasting Teddy kiss.
Henry awoke the whistling winds the hounded the walls outside. He put a hand on his head, trying the rub away the throbbing pain that had pressured up inside his skull. He slowly sat up to look around. He soon realized that he was in Teddy's guest room with the door shut and the curtains drawn. The only light in the room was from a flickering candle and just by looking at it, Henry's headache had grown in size. He peeled back the sheets and attempted to stand up before realizing how wobbly his legs actually were. He used the bedside table to steady himself and with its help, he was able to stand straight up. He sluggishly made his way to the curtains where he pushed them aside to see the outside world. But outside just made him depressed, it was now early evening and the window was now frosted over. The snow from the sky was now falling in sheets and the visibility was no more than a few feet in front of one's self. He left the curtain upon and got dressed in his previous night's attire before walking out into the hall.
When he got out to look around, the hallway was deserted. He glanced up at the clock and found it to be 6 o'clock. He shook his head, trying hard not to believe that he had slept the day away. He cursed under his breath and made his way angrily towards his friend's study. When he got there and looked inside, it was empty so walked down the steps towards the main living room where he usually found Elizabeth. When he got there, found it to be empty.
"Elizabeth," he called out but no one answered, "Teddy," again there was silence. He ran a hand through his already messy hair, wondering where else his friends could be. They couldn't be far. He closed his eyes and tried to think of where else they could be but he couldn't remember a thing. He blamed it on the alcohol.
"Hello Henry," a soft voice called slowly and quietly from behind him. He instantly recognized the voice but assumed he was dreaming. He couldn't move, he didn't want to move for he knew how it ended. He knew if he turned around there would be no one there. But this time when he looked over his shoulder, someone was leaning against the doorway. And that someone was the real Diana Holland.